LEE KUAN YEW: POLITICIAN PROMOTED SINGAPORE'S PARTICIPATION IN CHINESE REFORM, OPENING-UP
(Xinhua file photo)
The "founding father of Singapore," Lee Kuan Yew, with his insightful vision, participated in and witnessed the great process of China's reform and opening-up.
When he passed away in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his message of condolences that Lee was an old friend of the Chinese people and the founder, pioneer and promoter of Sino-Singaporean relations.
In November 1978, Lee, the then prime minister of Singapore, hosted visiting Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. At that time, the door to reform and opening-up was only just about to open. Having witnessed the economic achievements of Singapore, Deng said that China should learn from Singapore.
Lee had visited Shenzhen several times and commented that the success of Shenzhen showed that the socialist path with Chinese characteristics had worked. He promoted the establishment of the Suzhou Industrial Park and Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, introducing the new economic cooperation model between the two countries.
Singapore's development has provided valuable reference for China to solve problems during the process of reform and opening-up. Meanwhile, China's development also created great opportunities for Singapore.
